COCKATRICE

cockatrice

(noun) monster hatched by a reptile from a cock’s egg; able to kill with a glance

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

cockatrice (plural cockatrices)

(mythology) A legendary creature about the size and shape of a dragon or wyvern, but in appearance resembling a giant rooster, with some lizard-like characteristics.

Coordinate terms: basilisk, wyvern

Hypernym: chimera

(obsolete) Mistress, harlot.

(fantasy, folklore) A snake or serpent that appears to be hatched of a rooster, or cock's, egg.

(speculated) The cobra.

(obsolete, figurative) Any venomous or deadly thing.

Source: Wiktionary

Cock"a*trice (-tris; 277), n. [OF. cocatrice crocodile, F. cocatrix, cocatrice. The word is a corruption from the same source as E. crocodile, but was confused with cock the bird, F. coq, whence arose the fable that the animal was produced from a cock's egg. See Crocodile.]

1. A fabulous serpent whose breath and look were said to be fatal. See Basilisk.

That bare vowel, I, shall poison more Than the death-darting eye of cockatrice. Shak.

2. (Her.) A representation of this serpent. It has the head, wings, and legs of a bird, and tail of a serpent.

3. (Script.) A venomous serpent which which cannot now be identified.

The weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's [Rev. Ver. basilisk's] den. Is. xi. 8.

4. Any venomous or deadly thing.

This little cockatrice of a king. Bacon.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition